In a First Since Independence, A Pakistan University Is Teaching Sanskrit
New Delhi: The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has concluded an Introduction to Sanskrit course this December, marking a historic moment in Pakistan’s academic landscape as a university has formally started teaching the language in its classrooms for the first time since Partition.
"Sanskrit – one of the world’s oldest and most influential classical languages – has seldom been formally taught in Pakistan since the partition of 1947. Its reappearance in a university classroom after decades signifies a renewed commitment to engaging with the shared intellectual and cultural heritage of South Asia," the university mentioned in its website.
At the heart of the initiative is Shahid Rasheed, associate professor of sociology at Forman Christian College, who described the introduction of the course as “a small yet significant step toward reviving serious study of a language that has shaped philosophical, literary, and spiritual traditions across the region.” According to LUMS, Rasheed's longstanding passion for Sanskrit led him to study the language independently for years.
Underlining that people ask him why he was learning Sanskrit, Rasheed told Tribune, "I tell them, why should we not learn it? It is the binding language of the entire region. Sanskrit grammarian Panini’s village was in this region. Much writing was done here during the Indus Valley Civilisation. Sanskrit is like a mountain--a cultural monument. We need to own it. It is ours too; it’s not tied to any one particular religion.”
Ali Usman Qasmi, director of the Gurmani Centre, told Tribune that a weekend programme was offered initially that was open to everyone, including students, researchers, lawyers and academics and the university started a proper course seeing the response.
“After we saw the response, we decided to introduce it as a proper university course. Even though the number of students is still small, we hope it will grow over the next few years. Ideally, by spring 2027, we should be able to teach the language as a year-long course,” Qasmi was quoted as saying.
He added: “We understand the importance of connecting with this incredible tradition, which is part of the Pakistani-Indian global heritage. So much of our literature, poetry, art and philosophy go back to the Vedic age. Many historians believe that the Vedas were written in this region. It then becomes even more important to read the classical texts in their original language.”
The university mentioned that the course generated strong interest among students and scholars, highlighting a growing desire to reconnect with classical languages as tools for understanding South Asian history, thought, and culture. "The Gurmani Centre plans to continue strengthening such initiatives in the coming years"
Tribune reported that LUMS is planning to offer courses on the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita as well.
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